Scientists from the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine (ICBFM) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have created a prototype of a drug that can overcome the drug resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy. Nadezhda Mironova, Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Biochemistry of the ICBFM SB RAS, spoke about this on February 20.
As the scientist told the TASS agency, based on this development, it will be possible to create drugs that suppress the ability of cancer cells to survive after chemotherapy.
“The use of chemotherapy drugs leads to the activation of the natural protective mechanism of the cell. In this case, with each course of chemotherapy, the body becomes less sensitive to treatment. Our drug blocks resistance and restores sensitivity to chemotherapy,” Mironova shared her results.
The lead researcher added that the applied approach will allow to more effectively fight such types of tumors as uterine cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma and breast cancer. The same approach can be used to combat antibiotic resistance.
The created prototype of the drug is modified oligonucleotides – short synthetic DNA fragments (hapmers). Based on them, it is possible to create therapeutic drugs, said Maxim Kupryushkin, head of the laboratory of nucleic acid chemistry of the ICBFM SB RAS.
Due to their structure, hapmers penetrate the tumor cell, block the mechanism of drug resistance, and the chemotherapy drug destroys the cell.
The syndrome of multidrug resistance of malignant neoplasms is the ability of tumor cells to adapt to changes in the external environment and remain viable in response to exposure to drugs. As a result, the tumor becomes resistant to chemotherapy and the disease progresses.
Earlier, in 2020, it was reported that scientists from the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine (ICBFM) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences proved the effectiveness of using modified short DNA fragments to restore sensitivity to an antitumor chemotherapy drug in cervical cancer. According to scientists, these compounds not only effectively penetrate into cells, but are also able to reduce the survival of tumors, acting at the genetic level.
In the same year, it became known that an international team of scientists, together with the Tyumen State University (Tyumen State University), created nickel-based compounds that can effectively fight cancer cells.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
